Drains run dry

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Lechelle Earl, owner/editor




Drains run dry

The lack of the rain in the South East this year has drain levels dry or running at a low base-level of flow with experts predicting the drains are very well placed at the present time to manage the upcoming forecasted rainfall.


It has been a very dry start to the winter season in the Limestone Coast with below average rainfall right across the region.


The region is approximately up to 200mm below the six month long term average measured from January to June and drains are looking dramatically different compared last year which saw to the wettest June on record.


A South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board (SEWCDB) spokesperson said in comparison to last year there was much less water being collected and flowing in the drains.


“The drainage system is mostly rainfall driven (some drains are groundwater drains; these are in the Upper South East) and with such a low rainfall start to the season, we have noticeably less water in the system,” the spokesperson said.


“Being so far away from the average for rainfall we would need about another 100-150mm of rainfall or thereabouts over a few weeks to get the soils and landscape primed to create any significant run-off into the drainage channels.


“Hopefully, we get that rainfall soon to hydrate the paddocks, recharge the underground water resource and so we can direct water in the channels to fill the wetlands connected to the drainage system.”


Measurements recorded at the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board office between 2023 and 2024 are 236mm in June last year compared to 30mm this year.


The long-term average for January to end of June is 328mm and this year the SEWCDB has recorded only 112mm.


Measured flows to June 1 at key sites between 2023 and 2024 in the calendar year to date are significantly down with Reedy Creek/Mount Hope recording 7015 megalitres last year compared to 197 this year.


Meanwhile, Drain M at Woakwine collected 3841 megalitres in 2023 compared to a mere six megalitres this year while Blackford Drain recorded 8124 megalitres in 2023 and 175 megalitres in 2024.

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